Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Northern Bahr el Ghazal ولاية شمال بحر الغزال
State
UTC+2 (CAT)
HDI (2021)	0.308[2] low · 10th of 10

Northern Bahr el Ghazal (Arabic: ولاية شمال بحر الغزال) is a

is the capital of the state.

History

Because of its proximity to

in this region over a long time. While relations during the colonial era were largely peaceful, the war saw an upsurge in hostilities. Government backing to the Missriya gave them a decided advantage over local Dinka groups, and raiding by murahileen militias (and other government backed groups, including some Dinka militias) resulted in considerable loss of life, widespread abduction and pillaging of Dinka villages. Many of these raids coincided with the movement of government trains to and from Kordofan to Wau.

It had the highest rate of poverty, 76% according to government statistics, of the 10 states of South Sudan.^[4]

In October 2015, President

.

On 22 January 2020, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, along with the rest of the original ten states of South Sudan, was re-established at the conclusion of a peace agreement resolving the South Sudanese Civil War. Tong Aken Ngor, appointed by President Kiir as Governor of Aweil State in 2019, was sworn in as the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in the wake of the state's re-establishment.

Geography

Situated in South Sudan's

The Lol River, which crosses the state, is a tributary of the Bahr al-Arab, flowing downstream from Unity, slicing westward through Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and ending in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Hazards

Annual floods are common throughout Northern Bahr el Ghazal, affecting residential areas. In 2008, a flood in Aweil South County displaced 40,000 people. In 2010, a flood took out 70% of livestock and crops in Aweil South County and Aweil West County; in Aweil, around 60% was destroyed. Thousands of people were greatly affected by the flood in 2010.^[6]

Government

Retired Gen. Salva Chol Ayat was the last Acting governor of the state. He replaced Kuel Aguer Kuel in April 2015.The incumbent governor is Hon. Tong Aken Ngor.

Administration

Northern Bahr al Ghazal, like other states in

County	Area (km2)	Population Census 2008	County Headquarter
Aweil North	6,376.53	129,127	Gok Machar
Aweil East	6,172.23	309,921	Wanyjok
Aweil South	1,786.95	73,806	Malek Alel
Aweil West	5,030.22	166,217	Nyamlell
Aweil Central	11,177.40	41,827	Aweil

The counties are further divided into Payams, then Bomas.

Infrastructure

By 2009, accessibility of Northern Bahr al Ghazal had been greatly improved. In 2007, the reconstruction of roads and bridges began. All county headquarters across the state were connected by all-weather roads with the exception of Aroyo, then the capital of Aweil Center County. In 2019, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announced a project to develop multi-purpose water infrastructure in Koum. It is the lowest developed region of the entire globe according to the HDI.

References

Books

• Francis M. Deng, 1995, War of Visions, Conflict of Identities in the Sudan, (Washington D.C.: Brookings)
• Human Rights Watch, 1999, Famine in Sudan, 1998, The Human Rights Causes, (New York, Human Rights Watch).
• Dave Eggers, 2006, What is the What, (New York, Vintage Books).
• David Keen, 1994, The Benefits of Famine, A Political Economy of Famine and Relief in Southwestern Sudan, 1983–1989, (New Jersey, Princeton University Press).
• Garang Malong, 2012, Theatre of Hope (Nairobi University, Kenya)
• Aweil graduates network (2013)

External links

• John Ryle, Jok Madut Jok and Fergus Boyle, 2003, Sudan Abduction and Slavery Project, Abductee Database 2003 Report
• "Northern Bahr el Ghazal State gets in new cabinet" [1]^{[permanent dead link]}